US boarders?

[gtsecc]

Is it too far away? Is it difficult for Americans to gain admission? Is it recommended to enter via Prep school? Does anyone have any experience with American boarders?

Not entirely clear what you mean here?

Do you mean an american child / young person coming to UK from USA to go to secondary boarding school?

If that's the case I can offer some pointers:-
I suppose it would be difficult to arrange - you would need to visit potential schools, arrange to sit the entrance exams (some schools use the Common Entrance exam system, others set their own). Most children will take these in Dec / Jan preceding the September entry, although some will allow you to sit earlier and defer.
Entry through a feeder Prep will be easier as that's the school will prepare the children for the exams, arrange visits etc. The downside with this is if you want a different school than the usual one - your back on your own leg work.
Not every prep school is boarding - far from it, so that route is out unless you are in the UK.

The system can be slightly different for girls where most private schools for girls only start at 11, although they may also have an intake at 13. From personal experience I would send a girl at 11, rather than keeping them backing until 13 mainly as it's difficult to break into established friendship groups, and also they will have more experience in the school prior to GCSE exam options choice which usually happens in Jan-March of Year 9.

I understand that the american school system is one year behind the UK - you would need to discuss this with any potential school as there isn't a lot of time for catching up in Year 9, when some exam syllabus start.

Hope this is helpful

Several U S boarders at DC school.

Most seem to have a UK connection or belong to highly mobile families so have chosen UK boarding to offer stability.

Personally I am not sure where the value added lies for most US based families. They already speak English, and they have first rate schools at home many of which offer boarding from 14. Many of these schools compare favourably with the big English boarding schools with similar offerings in academics, sport, music and the arts.

Easter and Summer one week half terms and compulsory exeats can be a problem for inter continental boarders though some stay with friends. This is not always possible though particularly in exam years where potential hosts want their DC to concentrate on revision. Additional costs of UK based guardians and inter continental flights are significant.

For example

www.choate.edu/about/by-the-numbers

I just the other day wrote pretty much what I would say to you on the "best boys boarding school" thread on Education, if you track that down.

American boarding schools are top knotch too!! I'd recommend the one I went to in a heart beat! Having worked in uk boarding schools, I'd say the US school I went to fosters more independence and has less exam pressure (pressure applied more even throughout the year). There were also more extracurricular opportunities.

I have children that board in uk while we live in us, but they are British and want to remain in uk education system through to uni. Entrance etc actually no different than applying from in country. Biggest thing to consider is definitely flights as uk system of 5-6 weeks of school and then a break can lead to a lot of flying! Upside is that they don’t go very long between visits home. If I were an American with no ties to uk system then I would look at us boarding schools for similar opportunities without the additional travel issues.

We're Americans living in the UK and one of our children is a weekly boarder at a UK school (year 10). It's perfect for him and he fits in really well, is doing well academically and really enjoys the boarding experience . But we were already living here long-term when he joined the school. Agree that there's no compelling reason to opt for a UK boarding school over a US school, especially if your child will attend likely university in the USA. Maybe if your child is aiming for a UK uni?

If anticipating US University it could be a positive disadvantage as U.K. school willnot prepare students for SAT/AP and U.K. students will not continue with all subjects to Sixth form that are required for those tests

You have to contact the Senior School to find out their admissions protocol for non-CE students.

I would imagine that most would be happy with standardised state tests (eg 6th grade tests), or require you to take their own similar tests under exam conditions in your primary school.

Independent schools are a law unto themselves, so contact the admissions office.